Abstract
Occupational noise-induced hearing loss (ONIHL) is one of the most recognised occupational diseases globally. Mining and earthworks are among those with the greatest impact in this matter. A systematic review addressing the noise exposure characterisation, in order to develop a preventive design, is being proposed in this protocol. The Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines were used to draw the research outline, where the study and report characteristics are provided. All of the selected keywords and databases/journals were priorly identified and are now presented. The search methodology is clarified, and an example for Scopus is provided. A methodology to deal with bias within studies is proposed, and all the systematic review narrative processes of the systematic review are discussed in the protocol, including information that will be extracted from the selected records. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis guidelines will be used to help develop the review.
Highlights
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), the irreversible damage caused to the auditory nerve which begins in the range between 3000-6000 Hz (Kanji, Khoza-Shangase, & Ntlhakana, 2019), occurs after a prolonged period of exposure to high levels of noise (Golmohammadi & Darvishi, 2020)
NIHL can be divided into two types: a temporary threshold shift, which results in temporary loss of hearing or, in most cases, a permanent threshold shift which affects the worker’s ability to hear soft sounds (Alfaro Degan, Coltrinari, Lippiello, Nataletti, & Annesi, 2019)
Occupational noise-induced hearing loss (ONIHL) in one of the most well-known diseases resulting from the occupational noise exposure, in particular at intensities of 85 dB or higher (Kanji et al, 2019; Moroe, Khoza-Shangase, Kanji, & Ntlhakana, 2018)
Summary
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), the irreversible damage caused to the auditory nerve (or its components) which begins in the range between 3000-6000 Hz (Kanji, Khoza-Shangase, & Ntlhakana, 2019), occurs after a prolonged period of exposure to high levels of noise (Golmohammadi & Darvishi, 2020). There is a systematic review analysing risk factors that can worsen noiseinduced health effects, dividing them into four groups: 1) personal factors - ageing, and smoking, 2) physical agents - vibration, and heat, 3) chemical agents - chemicals, solvents, carbon monoxide, and metals and 4) occupational factors - shift work (Golmohammadi & Darvishi, 2020) This set of factors may indicate that combined exposure to noise and other factors can potentiate its adverse effects; further studies are still needed. According to the USA National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), four out of five mining workers have a hearing impairment when reach retirement age1 These data are in line with other studies that show that approximately 73.2% of miners are exposed to excessive noise (Moroe et al, 2018). The systematic review will be carried out with the intent to: 1) Determine in which circumstances the exposure occurs and is most significant; 2) Identify measures to eliminate or reduce noise propagation or to mitigate its effects; This information will later be used to help develop a preventive design in surface mining and earthworks
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